AWS IAM: Creating an IAM User for Access Management

Welcome to Week 02 of my AWS immersion journey! In this exciting week, we will dive into the world of AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM), where we'll take control of access to our AWS resources and enforce strong security controls.
Let's start by creating an IAM user that will have access to our AWS account.

Table of Contents
Step 1: Create an AWS Account
Step 2: Create an IAM User
Step 3: Assign Administrator Role to the IAM User
Step 4: Ready to Explore IAM

Step 1: Create an AWS Account

If you already have an AWS account, feel free to skip this step. If not, head over to the AWS website and click on "Sign In to the Console" to create a new AWS account. Follow the on-screen instructions, provide the required information, and you'll have your AWS account ready in no time.

Create a new AWS account if you haven't done so already.

Step 2: Create an IAM User

Once you have your AWS account set up, it's time to create an IAM user with Administrator privileges. This will allow the IAM user to manage and access the AWS account.

1. Log in to your AWS account using the AWS Management Console.

2. In the AWS Management Console, navigate to the IAM service by clicking on "Services" in the top menu and then selecting "IAM" from the Security, Identity, & Compliance section.

3. In the IAM console, click on "Users" in the left sidebar, and then click on "Add user" to create a new IAM user.

4. Enter a "User name" for the IAM user, for example, "Administrator".

5. Tick the "Provide user access to the AWS Management Console" checkbox. This will allow the IAM user to access the AWS Management Console with the provided credentials.

6. Choose "Programmatic access" and "AWS Management Console access" options. This will enable both access types for the IAM user.

7. For the password, choose "Custom password" and enter a password of your choice. Make sure to write it down or copy it somewhere safe for later use.

8. Uncheck the "Users must create a new password at next sign-in" checkbox. This is for simplifying the learning process in this lab. However, in real-world scenarios, it's a good practice to enforce password changes periodically.

9. Click on "Next: Permissions" to proceed to the next step.

Step 3: Assign Administrator Role to the IAM User

Now that we've created the IAM user, it's time to assign the Administrator role to it. The Administrator role grants full access to all AWS services and resources within the AWS account.

1. On the "Set permissions" page, choose "Add user to group" and select "Admin" from the list of existing groups. The "Admin" group has AdministratorAccess policy attached to it, providing full access to AWS resources.

1. Click on "Next: Tags" and proceed to the next step. Tags are optional and can be used to categorize IAM users for better organization.

2. Click on "Next: Review" to review the IAM user's configuration.

3. Review the settings, and if everything looks good, click on "Create user" to create the IAM user.

4. Congratulations! You've successfully created an IAM user with Administrator privileges. Make sure to securely store the IAM user's credentials for future use.

Ready to Explore IAM

Now that we have our IAM user with Administrator privileges set up, we are ready to dive deeper into AWS IAM. In the upcoming labs, you'll have the opportunity to explore IAM policies, implement multi-factor authentication (MFA), and integrate IAM with other AWS services on your own. This hands-on experience will empower you to discover the full potential of IAM and customize it to suit your specific needs.

Remember, the AWS platform offers a vast array of resources, documentation, and tutorials to help you along the way. Don't hesitate to explore and experiment with AWS IAM to gain a deeper understanding of access management and security in the cloud.

Stay tuned for more exciting adventures in the world of AWS IAM! I'll be sharing my personal insights and experiences as I continue to uncover the possibilities this powerful service has to offer. If you have any questions, discoveries, or insights of your own, feel free to share them in the comments below. Let's continue this journey of learning and growth together!

Don't forget to connect with me on LinkedIn and Twitter to follow my AWS journey and share your own experiences. Together, we can make this cloud adventure go viral and engage with the AWS community worldwide!

Keep exploring, fellow cloud adventurers! See you in the next post. Happy cloud computing! 🌩️🚀